Rome Presbyterian ChurchP O Box 189939 Main StreetRome, PA 18837

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live them.”

John F. Kennedy

THANK YOU!I couldn’t ever say this word big enough to convey the gratitude in my heart for this church.

You all have been so faithful to Christ in this past year. You have struggled with issues and made difficult decisions. You have talked with your elders and deacons and asked questions they may not have always had the answers to. You prayed and sought God. And the most humbling thing of all: You followed the leadership that you called into place.

For all of this I am a big kind of grateful.

I am also grateful for all the ways you made me feel appreciated during the month of October. Thank you for praying me through my knee scope. Thank you for praying for my family. Thanks for asking how I’m doing. Truly grateful.

You are the best flock of sheep I could ever hope for! You are a unique community and I’m curious to see what God has in store for us to do next. I am writing this from Lewisburg, PA as I wait for the Equip Northeast 2013 Conference to begin. Judy Madill and Dan Williams will be joining me in a few hours. At last we will see the faces of those who are moving to ECO with us. We will begin to build relationships with our Mission Affinity Group and Pastoral Accountability Group. What an honor to lead worship here. I about can’t wait!!! (2.5 hours until we start)

While it may be time to put away the slogan “A Friendly Family of Faithful Followers” and adopt something that expresses our mission like “Growing and Planting Churches that Make Disciples of Jesus Christ”, you have lived into that identity of “faithful followers” and I believe our Father is faire chuffed (pleased).

This is a new day that the Lord has made for us! Let’s rejoice, be glad in it and be prepared to fully live into it!

Under the Mercy,

Pastor Karen

While we are preparing to say grace before our Thanksgiving dinner, have each person give at least one thing that they are thankful for.

Welcome Jacob Allen Bumbaugh, son of Charles and Nichole Bambaugh, who was baptized on Sunday, October 27, 2013.

The September food drive was very successful with generous donations made to New Beginnings, TACO and Chow for Children.

Mission members discussed new potential charitable organizations to confirm our church regular donations in line with our new denomination. These include the Antioch Partners, The Outreach Foundation and International Justice Mission.

The committee is planning a new bulletin board that keeps us all up to date on the missionaries we support as a congregation.

Scheduled October donations were made to Samaritan’s Purse $300.00 (our shoe-box organization), Hands Across NE $350.00 and Grace Connection $500.00.

Virginia Wilson will be celebrating her 80th birthday with a party on Sunday, November 24 from 2-4 at the Towanda Personal Care Home. She would like everyone to attend. If you cannot be there please remember her special day with a card. Virginia Wilson, c/o Memorial Hospital Personal Care Home, 603 William Street, Box 25, Towanda, PA 18848.

Dear Rome Church Family,I wish to thank you for your love and prayers that accompanied the pitcher filled with beautiful fall flowers. It has give me much comfort and joy just looking at the arrangement. I did not realize until now how much my family, Pastor Karen and all of you have meant to me. Thank you so very much for being so kind and caring.With Appreciation,Joan Lengemann

Dear Church Family,Thank you so much for all of your prayers, cards, phone calls and kind words during the sad time of my Mom’s passing. Thanks also to Pastor Karen for being with us and for supporting us at the Memorial Service. It was a very moving and fitting tribute to my Mom!Love, Jim & Laurie Novak & Family

MY THANKFUL HEARTMaking the stuffing for Thanksgiving dinner helps restore my heart to gratefulness. First I cut

bread into cubes to dry out. Has it really been a year since I thanked God for the simple things of life? Dear God, thank you for my daily bread. Next I boil giblets for the tasty broth. When did I last express thanks for my body—even the oft-forgotten parts? Thank you, God, for creating and sustaining me.

Then I dice onions and celery, adding them to the mixture. That reminds me to thank God for abundant harvests. Finally I measure raisins, nuts, sage and salt into the stuffing, as scents fill the air. Lord, help me not grow weary of the interesting “spices” that fill my life.

As the stuffing goes into the oven, warm air wafting into the kitchen, I remember to thank God for providing my home. Here relatives and friends gather, often an odd combination. Yet when we bow our heads in thankfulness, we’re an unbeatable mix.

Mary Ann Sundby____________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Lord, I ask you to turn these weaknesses into strengths, sufferings into compassions, sorrow into joys, and pains into comforts. May your servant trust in your goodness and hope in your faithfulness, even in the middle of this suffering. Let them be filled with patience and joy in your presence as they wait for your healing touch for we know that all thins work together for good to them that love. God, to them who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)

Submitted by Margaret Chapman

Claude— Raymond Allis— Fire Dept.—Persecuted Christians Worldwide— Sandy MorrisShores Family— Grateful for those who serve our Country— Colleen Close – ROCCGold Star Mothers – People who are overwhelmed – Uli Hurley – CHOW-- XFALengemann Family—Jim Novak Family-- Violet & Ron—Matt—Connor-- BarneyBev—Susan—Mike Ricci—Billy’s Family—Jumping out of planes—Prudy WilsonLyle Morris—Nancy—God’s handy work displayed—Vanderpool/Lewis families—KarenKenzie Vanderpool—Diane Place—Rick—Ryan—Gordon Ford—Dale—The poor in ourCommunity—ECO retreat—Kerry—Gail—Travelers— Donna—Noah (sight & sound)

Session Meeting Summary

Elders met together with Deacons and Trustees on October 15, 2013, in the sanctuary. In addition to Pastor Karen, seventeen leaders were present. Pastor opened with prayer. This “Triad Team” meets quarterly to worship and praise God as a unified leadership team. Our task/mission: to build flourishing churches that make disciples of Jesus Christ – we believe Jesus Christ must be at the center of our lives and the making of disciples of Jesus is at the core of our ministry. Pastor Karen asked: How invested are we in this mission – are we all in? God’s not a fan of part way, he sets the bar high for us to be all in. Leaders read Matthew 6:19-21 and discussed where we store our treasure – what is the treasure of our hearts. We are reminded that our treasure commands who we are – at times we forget we are completely lost without Jesus Christ: that nothing and no one can redeem us nor save us but Christ alone, that Jesus is our treasure. How are we going to build God’s kingdom here – by investing ourselves – to be all in.

Leaders joined together to pray for the needs of all parishioners. Deacons and Trustees then met separately to discuss future plans. Elders continued discussing the following items:

Current roll is 108 members on active list 6 Shut-ins - Reuben and Jenny Brimmer, Marion Jones, Ethel Parks, Charlotte Sandor, and

Virginia Wilson – please keep them in your prayers. Pastor Karen, Judy Madill, and Dan Williams will attend “Equip 2013”, a gathering of the

Northeast ECO, on October 26-27, in Lewisburg, PA. Pastor Karen is serving on the planning committee for the gathering and will be leading morning worship.

Session discussed budget requests for 2014 Friday Night Fellowship dinner – over 100 people attended dinner on September 27th – lots

going on with those attending the fellowship dinners. Men’s fellowship breakfast on September 28, Don’t Camouflage Your Love, was a lively event –

Ed O’Connor is praying for great attendance for the December breakfast, “Sharing Your Gift”. Chow for Children started the first week of October – 20 families are being supplied with 2

meals weekly (8 more families than last Spring) – families and staff very appreciative. Adult Study is in full swing Sunday mornings @ 8:30 – currently studying the book, Radical, on

discipleship Story time for pre-school children and their parents/grandparents is well underway, led by Deb

Barrett XFA started October 3 – average attendance is in the 40’s – curriculum is Heroes, Heroines,

Champs and Chumps. Largest class is our sixth graders! Pat Coon continues to organize for Santa’s Sleigh Ride again this year and has designated

proceeds for new flooring in CEB. Elder/deacon serving team for November is Ed O’Connor and Mary Cole. Personnel is thrilled to announce the hiring of Karin LeFever as custodian of church and CEB 71 people were served Communion on October 6 Approved the upcoming Baptism of Kaitlyn West, and approved both Kaitlyn and Alec Morris for

membership into our church family on November 17th. Kaitlyn’s mentor is Karin LeFever, and

Alec’s mentor is Casey Crawford. Each was interviewed by Session and has presented their Statement of Faith.

Second Sunday service was well attended on October 13th @ 6pm around a campfire. Next second Sunday service is scheduled for November 10th in the sanctuary.

Presbytery meeting is on November 16th in Towanda at which time a vote will be taken to dismiss RPC to ECO denomination. Plans are underway for November 17th worship service.

Along with her regular schedule Pastor Karen reported making hospital visits, visits to shut-ins, other visits, working on by-laws, and serving with Hospice group.

Next Session meeting: November 21 @ 6:30 in Library

Respectfully submitted,

Sylvia Abrams, Clerk of Session